Ombre Thank-You Card

Today's card is a fun thank-you card using embossing and pigment ink to create an ombre effect.  Ombre is a coloring technique that has varying shades of the same color (think of a paint color swatch).  This technique works great as a background on a card!  I just happened to purchase some pigment ink that has varying shades of the same color and wanted to give this technique a try.

I started inking my background stamp at the top with the lightest shade of ink horizontally and kept inking rows of color a shade darker until I reached the bottom of the stamp.  I think I used four ink colors in all.  Then I covered the whole stamped image with clear embossing powder and embossed.  Because I was using pigment ink it stayed wet while I was inking the stamp with all of the different colors of ink.  I also inked around the edges of my stamped paper when I was done and added embossing powder to the edge of my paper and embossed again.  This gives the stamped image a really cool, defined edge.
 

I used a corner punch a friend had given me and used it to bring attention to my sentiment.  I also embossed both the sentiment and the edges of the paper.  Adding some gems really brings attention to this part of the card.  A banner with some white gel pen dashed lines really finishes the card off. 

I hope you enjoyed this simple card today.  Ombre is a great way to make a simple but striking statement.  Try vertical or diagonal lines of varying color for a different effect.  I hope you'll give it a try on your next card or layout.  Thanks for stopping!

Supplies:

• cardstock: misc scraps
• patterned paper: Die Cuts with a View (Everyday 6x6 Stack)
• ink: Inkadinkado (pigment ink stack Cool Pastels)
• embossing powder: Ranger (Superfine Clear)
• stamp: ScrapAce (sentiment), Hampton Art Stamps (Thank you pattern)
• tools: EK Success (corner punch)
• pen: Uniball (Signo Broad White)
• misc: pop dots, Imaginisce (i-rock gems)